Hydrangea plant named ‘SAXDIFIOROS’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘SAXDIFIOROS’, characterized by its bright pink-colored inflorescences, dark green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit, is disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/203,908 filed Jun. 18, 2015.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Variety denomination: ‘SAXDIFIOROS’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea plant botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘SAXDIFIOROS’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Dresden,Germany during the early summer of 2006. The objective of the breedingprogram was the development of Hydrangea cultivars that have strongstems and long-lasting inflorescences having attractive coloration.

The new Hydrangea cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. Thefemale (seed) parent of the new cultivar is a proprietary Hydrangeamacrophylla breeding selection coded 41-99/1, not patented,characterized by its mophead-type, red-colored inflorescences, mediumgreen-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is Hydrangea macrophylla‘Semperflorens’, not patented, characterized by its mophead-type,soft-pink colored inflorescences, light-green colored foliage, andmoderately vigorous, upright growth habit. The new cultivar wasdiscovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the above stated cross-pollination during April 2008 in a controlledenvironment in in Dresden, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cuttings since June2008 in Dresden, Germany has demonstrated that the new cultivarreproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as hereindescribed, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofsuch asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘SAXDIFIOROS’ as a new anddistinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Bright pink-colored inflorescences;    -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and    -   3. Moderately vigorous, upright growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parentprimarily in inflorescence color and shade of foliage color. Plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of the male parent primarily inshade of inflorescence color, shade of foliage color and stem strength.Plants of the new cultivar have stronger stems than the male parent.

Of the many commercially available Hydrangea cultivars, the most similarin comparison to the new cultivar is ENDLESS SUMMER ‘Bailmer’, U.S.Plant Pat. No. 15,298. However, in side-by-side comparison, plants ofthe new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Bailmer’ in at least thefollowing characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have an inflorescence color that        is a different shade of pink from plants of ‘Bailmer’;    -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have sterile floret sepals that        are larger than plants of ‘Bailmer’; and    -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have stronger stems than plants of        ‘Bailmer’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalflower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed description, which accurately describes the colors of‘SAXDIFIOROS’. The plants were grown in 13.0 cm containers forapproximately ten months in Dresden, Germany. Detailed growingconditions are described in the following section.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habitof ‘SAXDIFIOROS’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an inflorescence of ‘SAXDIFIOROS’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype mayvary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature,light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is TheR.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England,2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significanceare used. The plant history was taken in February 2016 on plants grownin 13.0 cm containers for approximately ten months in Dresden, Germany.Plants were grown outside and then forced to flowering in a greenhousefor an 11 week period. During the forcing period greenhouse temperaturesranged from 64° F. to 75° F. (18° C. to 24° C.) with 3,500 klx/qmsupplemental lighting. Plants were treated five times with 0.3% of thegrowth regulator Dazide, two times during outside cultivation and threetimes during the forcing period. Plants were pinched twice, five weeksafter sticking the unrooted cutting, and then six weeks after transplantto the 13 cm pot. Observations were made when the plants were in naturaldaylight conditions in Boskoop, The Netherlands. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘SAXDIFIOROS’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Hydrangea macrophylla breeding            selection coded 41-99/1, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Semperflorens’, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots during the summer.—Approximately 16            days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting during the            summer.—Approximately 28 days.        -   Time to initiate roots during the winter.—Approximately 18            days.        -   Time to produce a rooted cutting during the            winter.—Approximately 31 days.        -   Root description.—Medium thickness, fibrous.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching and density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 30 to 34 weeks of            cultivation from a rooted cutting followed by 9 to 11 weeks            of forcing to finish in a 13.0 cm pot.        -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Deciduous shrub,            mophead type Hydrangea. Moderately vigorous, upright.        -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 5a (−20° F. to −15° F.).        -   Heat tolerance.—Regularly tolerates temperatures as high as            38° C. in the summer.        -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:            Approximately 24.0 cm. Width: Approximately 40.0 cm.        -   Branching habit.—Moderately freely branching. Pinching            enhances branching. Quantity of lateral branches per plant:            Approximately 10.        -   Branch.—Shape: Rounded. Strength: Strong. Fasciation:            Absent. Length to base of inflorescence: Approximately            10.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm. Length of central            internode: Approximately 3.3 cm. Texture of young stem:            Glabrous. Texture of mature stem: Woody. Color of young            stem: 143C, strongly tinged with N186C at the nodes. Color            of mature stem: 199A to 199B.        -   Lenticels.—Quantity per internode: Approximately 15. Shape:            Round to elliptic, positioned vertically. Size:            Approximately 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm. Color: N186C.-   Foliage description:    -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per lateral branch:            Approximately 8. Fragrance: None detected. Form: Simple.            Arrangement: Opposite.        -   Leaves.—Aspect: Flat. Shape: Ovate to elliptic. Margin:            Serrated. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Venation            pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf: Approximately            12.7 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately 8.7 cm. Texture            of upper and lower surfaces: Moderately rugose, glabrous.            Variegation: Absent. Color of upper surface of young            foliage: 143A with venation of 144A to 144B. Color of lower            surface of young foliage: Closest to but more yellow than            143A with venation of 144A to 144B. Color of upper surface            of mature foliage: Closest to but darker than NN137A with            venation of 144A to 144B. Color of lower surface of mature            foliage: NN137C to NN137D with venation of 144A to 144B.        -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.2 cm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.5 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 144A to            144B.-   Flowering description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Seasonal, May through August.        -   Lastingness of individual inflorescence on the            plant.—Approximately 1.5 months.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Terminal globular, single-type,            mophead, compound corymb of fertile florets and            rotate-shaped, sterile, sepalous florets borne on the same            corymb, persistent. Sterile florets occasionally have            visible reproductive parts, but lack an ovary. Quantity per            plant: Approximately 5. Fragrance: None detected. Aspect:            Facing upward and outward. Height: Approximately 8.2 cm.            Width: Approximately 14.9 cm. Quantity of fertile florets            per inflorescence: Approximately 20. Quantity of sterile            florets per inflorescence: Approximately 85.        -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Shape: Rounded. Length:            Approximately 3.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm.            Texture: Matte, densely covered with thin pubescence having            an average length 0.5 mm, white in color. Color: 182B.-   Floret description:    -   -   General description.—Type: Single, sterile and fertile.        -   Sterile florets, bud just before opening.—Shape: Ovate.            Length: Approximately 9.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately            5.0 mm. Color: 62C.        -   Sterile florets.—Depth: Approximately 8.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.6 cm. Corolla: 4 petals, often closed            forming a central eye. Shape: Rotate, cruciform. Diameter:            Approximately 2.0 mm. Calyx: 4 sepals, occasionally 3 or 5.            Shape: Rotate, cruciform. Diameter: Approximately 3.6 cm.        -   Petals, sterile florets.—Shape: Ovate when open, otherwise            petals form a center eye of up to 2.0 mm in diameter and 73B            in color. Margin: Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.            Length: Approximately 1.8 mm. Width: Approximately 0.8 mm.            Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous, matte. Color            of upper surface: 63B. Color of lower surface: 64C.        -   Sepals, sterile florets.—Shape: Broadly ovate to deltoid.            Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Broadly            attenuate. Length: Approximately 2.0 cm. Width:            Approximately 2.1 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous, matte. Color of upper surface when first open:            64D. Color of lower surface when first open: 63C. Color of            upper surface when fully open: Closest to but lighter than            63B. Color of lower surface when fully open: 63C.        -   Pedicel, sterile florets.—Strength: Moderately strong.            Aspect: Approximately 40° from peduncle axis. Length:            Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm.            Texture: Densely pubescent with appressed hairs having an            average length of 0.5 mm, white in color. Color: 63A to 63B.        -   Fertile florets, bud just before opening.—Shape: Broadly            obovate. Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter:            Approximately 3.0 mm. Color: 62B, base of 145D.        -   Fertile florets.—Conspicuousness: Inconspicuous. Depth:            Approximately 5.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 7.0 mm.            Corolla: 4 to 5 petals, often vestigial. Shape: Rotate,            concave. Diameter: Approximately 6.0 mm. Calyx:            Approximately 5 sepals. Shape: Rotate. Diameter:            Approximately 4.0 mm.        -   Petals, fertile florets.—Shape: Ovate. Margin: Entire. Apex:            Acute. Base: Truncate. Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Width:            Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces:            Glabrous, matte. Color of upper surface: 63C. Color of lower            surface: 63D.        -   Sepals, fertile florets.—Shape: Ovate to deltoid. Margin:            Entire. Apex: Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate. Length:            Approximately 1.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture            of upper surface: Glabrous, matte. Texture of lower surface:            Sparsely pubescent. Color of upper and lower surfaces: 158D            tinged with 145D.        -   Pedicel, fertile florets.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect.            Length: Approximately 4.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately            1.0 mm. Texture: Sparsely pubescent with appressed hairs,            white in color. Color: 150D tinged with 62C to 62D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Observed in fertile florets and            occasionally in the center of sterile florets, sterile            florets lack an ovary. Androecium: Stamen quantity: 8 to 10            per floret. Stamen length: Approximately 2.5 mm to 3.0 mm.            Filament color: 85B. Anther shape: Kidney-shaped, basally            attached. Anther length: Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color:            85D. Pollen amount: Moderately abundant. Pollen color: 159D.            Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per floret. Pistil length:            Approximately 1.8 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma            color: 77B. Style length: Approximately 1.25 mm, two or            three-lobed. Style color: 85D. Ovary length: Approximately            1.5 mm. Ovary texture: Sparsely pubescent with appressed            hairs, white in color. Ovary color: 150D tinged with 62D.-   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has    been observed.-   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests    common to Hydrangea has not been observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plantnamed ‘SAXDIFIOROS’, substantially as herein illustrated and described.